Pine Avenue Skit

As noted in an article appearing in the August 13, 2016 edition of the Cumberland Times-News, “The Pine Avenue Playground opened as the city’s 'colored' playground in 1933 and members of the local African-American community dug the pool by hand. Even though swings were not added until 1944, the playground was the center of summer life for generations of Cumberland’s black children. Although the city desegregated its playgrounds in 1948, the Pine Avenue Playground remained the 'colored' playground by tradition. For a period of twenty years, Jean Beckward served as the playground supervisor.”

Children from the Pine Avenue playground pose for a photograph at Skit Night held at Constitution Park. The Pine Avenue kids took first place.
Pine Avenue was considered to be the city's "black" playground. The Pine Avenue Playground skit participants include:

Front row, kneeling left to right: Ernie Ashby, Ricky Darr, Harold Banks, Joseph Simms, and Tony Thompson.
Standing, left to right are: Charmaine Yates, Danny Keyes, Pam Ashby, Shelly Peck, Anita Davis, Karen Yates, Sonya Cooper, Thomas "Lil' Punkin" Peck, Jimmy Ashby, and Jeffrey Frazier